Key holder



A ril 9, 1935. H; E AL 1,996,933

KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

My. BY

A TTORNEY April 9, 1935. H, R, EGAL 1,996,933

KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 5, 1933' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIA IIIIIIIM INVEYTOR.

Patented Apr. 9, 1935 uivirso s'rATs-is PATENT OFFIECE 132 Ci'aiins.

This invention relatesto pocket key holders.

Anobject of this invention is to provide a key holder for compactly retaining a plurality of keys, and so constructed that the keys may be used and replaced in the holder with only one hand, the holder serving as a handle to turn the key in the keyhole.

A further object of this invention is to provide a key holder of the character described, provided witha flexible folder or cover, and a case for: retaining and concealingone of the keys.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a highly improved, neat, compact and durable. key holder of the character described, which shall. comprise comparatively few, simple parts, be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple to manipulate, attractive in appearance, and withal practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of inventionwill in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out,

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations. of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope ofapplication. will be indicated in the following claims- In the accompanying drawings, in which. are shown several of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1- is a top plan view of a key holder embodying the invention, showing a key in position for use;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the key holder shown in Fig. l, with the flexible cover open and showing the keys in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3a is a perspective view of one of the slider members of the key holder, illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a key holder em-. bodying the invention,v and illustrating a modified construction, with partsbroken away to show the interior construction;

Fig. 5- is a cross-sectional view taken online 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken online 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a key holder embodying the invention and illustrating a still further modified construction, with the cover plate for the key case removed;

Fig. 8 is a. cross-sectional view taken on line 8'-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of. Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a device embodying the invention and illustrating still another modi-fied construction; and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View taken on line III-I of Fig. 10.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, ID designates a key holder embodying the-invention, comprising a flat, elongated plate I-I, preferably of metal, and formed at the endsthereof and on the longitudinal mid-section thereof with substantially semi-cylindrical notches I3, for the purpose hereinafter explained. Slid'ably mounted on the upper face of said plate Ii are a pair of syimnetrically disposed similar, elongated slide members I4, likewise made of flat metal. The members M are provided with parallel portions E6 andeachmember may be retained on said plate I l by aplurality of pairs of angle shaped prongs I5 struck up from the plate I i, and forming grooves for the reception of the side edges of the portion. I6 of eachmember M. The parallel portions it of said members M are formed at the ends thereof with lugs I-l adapted to contact the. prongs I5 to limit outward sliding movement of said members. Said prongs I5 are so located that the members It may be slidably moved outwardly beyond the ends of the plate I I a distance substantially equal to half the length of said plate.

Extendingfrom the outer endof each portion I6 isanear I8' adaptedwhensaid members I4 are moved inwardly, to overliethe notch 3. The cars t8 are aligned with one another and offset from the portions I6- Fixed. to each ear I8 and extending at right angles therethrough is an internally screw threaded tube or post 2i) open at the top and having a head II at the bottom end thereof, spaced somewhat. below the plate II, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.v Screwed to each tube 20 is a screw 22 having a head 24 preferably formed with a concave inner surface 25. It will be noted that the heads 24 of screws 22' are spaced from the ears F8 whereby one or a plurality of keys 26 may be mounted on each tube 2c. Thus to place keys on said tubes, the screws 24" are removed and the keys 26 which are provideo; with openings, are threaded on said tubes. The screws are then screwed to said tubes to retain the keys on the? holder. The height of the tubes 29' obviously depends upon the number of keys it is desired. to place on each tube.

As iliustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawings, the sets of keys. 26 overlie-the portions I5 of the members I4. One: of said portions I6 may be provided with an upstanding pin 30 for positioning the keys and to prevent one set of keys from interfering with the other set of keys mounted on the other of said pins. The pin 30 may be located at about the middle of said portion l6 and between the shanks of the keys; and is parallel to the tubes 26.

In Fig. Be there is shown a slider-|4a similar to slider H but with the pin 30 replaced by an upstanding curved wall 3| of any suitable construction, and serving as a spacer or partition between the keys.

Attached to the underside of the plate I I, as by rivets in any suitable manner, is a flexible folder or wrapper 32 made of leather or the like sheet material, having a central portion 33 and flap portions 34 and 35 on opposite sides of said central portion, adapted to be folded over the keys when the latter are in the position shown in Fig. 2. Said portions or flaps 34 and 35 may be provided with complementary snap fastener portions 36 and 36a for opening and closing the folder. When the folder is closed and the keys are disposed inwardly to overlie the portions |6 of the sliding members l4, said keys are retained in position by the folder. When it is desired to use a key, the holder may be held in one hand, and the thumb may be pressed against the head 24 of one of the screws 22 to project one of the sliders |4. One of the keys may then be swung outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and said key operated, the holder serving as a handle during the turning operation. Thereafter, the particular key may be swung back to overlie the projected slider |4, and said slider then retracted or pushed back to replace the set of keys mounted thereon beneath the folded flaps 34 and 35.

The concave surfaces 25 of the heads 24 serve to increase the purchase of the thumb on said heads to facilitate handling of the device. The pin 30 or the wall 3| serves to prevent obstruction of the set of keys as the slider is pushed back into the folder. The central portion 33 of the leather folder may extend between the heads 2| and the underside of cars l8, and the fiap 34 may be formed with notches at the ends thereof to permit the heads 24 to project above said flaps when the folder is closed whereby said heads may be exposed.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 there is shown a combination key case and key holder 40 illustrating a modified construction. The device 40 comprises a metal case 4| of generally rectangular shape and having a bottom wall 42, end walls 43 and 44, and side walls 45. The bottom Wall 42 is provided with a longitudinal central depressed portion 46 formed with a longitudinal slot 41. The side walls are provided with inwardly extending narrow ledges 48 terminating short of the ends of said side Walls. The front wall 43 is provided with a pair of inwardly dented spaced portions 56 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Said wall 43 is furthermore formed with a slot 52. slidably mounted on the case 4| is a cover plate 54 the edges whereof are received beneath the ledges 48, the ends thereof being received on the upper edges of the indentations 50 at one end of the case, and over the end wall 44 at the other end of the case. The cover may be provided with a downwardly indented portion 56* adjacent one end thereof to snap over the wall 44 for retaining the cover in closed position. A finger extension 51 may be provided adjacent the indented portion 56 to permit the cover to be slidably moved to open the case. By lifting the tab 51 the cover plate 54 may be released and pulled to open position.

Slidably mounted within the case 4| is a key retainer 60 comprising a flat plate 6| lying against the upper surface of said bottom wall 42 and having a pair of integral, upturned walls 62 at the sides thereof, parallel to side walls 45 of the case. The walls 62 are disposed below the ledges 48 whereby said member 60 may be slidably moved in opposite directions within the key case. Extending from the rear edge of said plate 6| and preferably integrally formed therewith is a bow spring 63 having forwardlyprojecting arms 63a overlying edgewise, the plate 6|. To facilitate sliding movement of said plate 6|, the same is formed with a central longitudinal slot 63b extending to the front edge thereof. The plate 6| is further formed with a central opening 64 and extending therethrough and fixed to said plate is a pin 65 projecting above the plate 60 into the case 4|. Screwed to the lower end of the pin 65 is a thumb piece 66 projecting through slot 41 and having a head 61. A key H1 is adapted to be placed on the plate 6|! with the bow portion of the key received between the projections and arms 63a of the bow spring. The opening 12 of said key is adapted to receive the pin portion 66. 'It will now be clear that movement of the thumb piece 61 will cause the key likewise to be moved.

The shank portion 13 of the key is thus adapted to be pushed through the opening 52 in the wall 43 for use. 7

Mounted on the case cover 54 area pair of symmetrically disposed, similar, sliding members |4b substantially similar to the members |4 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, and likewise provided with ear portions and upstanding tubes for receiving sets of keys. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings however, the tubular internally screw threaded tubes 20a are riveted to the ears l8a.

Attached to the underside of the case 42 is a flexible sheet member 15 made of leather or any other suitable material and having a cut out portion 16 for receiving the depressed portion 46 of the case. The member 15 may have a portion attached to one of the side walls 45 and a flap extension 11 adapted to be folded about the keys and key case and attached, as by means of snap fasteners 18, to said portion 11. Thus one key may be disposed within the case 4| and sets of keys mounted on the tubes 20a. The key within the key case may be projected by means of manipulating the head 61; and the keys mounted on the upstanding. pins 20:; may be manipulated in the manner described above.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a combination key case and key holder 80 illustrating a still further modified construction. The device 80 is similar to the device 40 except for the structure for holding and moving the key 10 within the key case 4|. For holding the key 10 there is provided a. plate 8| of substantially rectangular shape slidably mounted on the bottom wall 42 of said case 4|. Said plate 8| is provided with a central opening 82. slidably received in the slot 41 of the depressed portion 46 of the case 4|, is a member 83 having a head 84 contacting the underside of said depressed portion, and a narrow shoulder portion 84a extending from the head and projecting through the slot 41 and contacting the underside of plate 8|. Extending from the shoulder 84a is a small screw 85 loosely projecting through the opening 82 of said plate BI and mounted on said plate, is a second plate 38 having an elongated slot 89 slidably receiving the screw there'- through. An internally screw threaded member 98 screwed to the upper end. of the: screw 85 serves to clamp the plate 88 tothe plate 81 and to" the shoulder 84a. The member 98 may :be'provided with a kerf 9| to permit the same to be manipulated bya screw driverifi It will now be understood thatupon loosening the member 98 the plate may be moved longitudinally with respect to the plate 8 I. Said plate 88'is'provided'with a pair ofspaced, upturned,

symmetrically disposed fingers 92 at the forward end thereof. The bow portion .of' the key may thusbe placed on the plate 88 with the member 90 projecting through the opening in the bow of the key and with the fingers 92 engaging edge portions of the bow of said key. Thus the holder may be adjusted for keys having bow portions of various sizes. If a key with a larger bow is to be mounted within the case, the screw Sills unscrewed suificiently to permit the plate 88 to be moved forwardly; The key is then placed within the case with said member 98 projecting through the opening in the bow of said key. The plate 88 is then moved rearwardly until the fingers 92 engage the bow portion of the key. The screw member may then be tightened in adjusted position. The shoulder 84a is preferably of sufiicient height to prevent the plate 8| from being clamped tightly against the bottom wall of the case to ensure an easy sliding movement of the key.

In Figs. 10 and 11 there is shown a modified construction of the sliding key holding mechanism within the key case. In accordance with the construction shown in these figures, there is slidably mounted on the inner surface of the bottom wall of the case 4|, a plate 94 having a longitudinal, elongated slot 94a. At the front edge thereof the plate 94 is provided with a pair of spaced, symmetrically disposed, upstanding fingers 91. Extending through the slot 41 in the bottom wall of the case is the shoulder portion 84a of the member 84. Extending from said shoulder 84a is the screw threaded portion 85 on which there is screwed a pin 95 having a reduced portion 96 projecting through the slot 94a and adapted to press against the upper surface of shoulder 84a. The plate 94 is thus free to move slidably on the shoulder 84a.

The key '10 is adapted to be placed on the plate with the pin 95 projecting through the opening in the bow of the key. Extending from the side edges of the plate 94 are a pair of upstanding, apertured fingers or ears 99 to which there are attached the ends of a coil tension spring 98 of preferably substantially square cross-section. As illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, the mid-portion of the spring is adapted to press against the rear edge of the key, thus causing the fingers 91 to be pressed against the edges of the bow of said key. It will now be understood that the holder 94 may accommodate keys having bow portions of various sizes. The spring 98 may be tensioned and stretched and the bow of the key is gripped between the fingers 9! and the spring 98. The square cross-sectional shape of the spring causes the same to retain engagement with the edge of the key, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 11.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is Well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above'invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaaccompanying drawingsis to-beinterpreted. asillustrative and not sitely extending arms adapted to engage edges of the bow portion of said key.

2. In combination, av key case having a slot in the bottom thereof, a plate within said case having an opening, a member having a shoulder portion slidably projecting through said slot and engaging the underside of said plate, ahead at the bottom of the shoulder portion, disposed on the outside of said case, and a screw extending. from said shoulder portion and projecting through said opening in said plate, a second plate slidably mounted on said first plate and having an elongated slot receiving said screw threaded portion therethrough, and an internally screw threaded member screwed to the outer end of said screw 0 threaded portion for clamping said plates together and to said shoulder.

3. In combination with a key case, means for supporting a key within said case comprising a member adapted to be received within the opening of the bow portion of said key, a member movable relative to said first member adapted to engage an edge of the bow portion of said key, and means for attaching said members together in various adjusted positions to accommodate keys having bow portions of various sizes.

4. A key holder comprising a case having a bottom wall, side walls and end walls, said side walls having inwardly turned ledges at the upper ends thereof, one of said end walls having inwardly indented portions, and a cover plate slidably mounted on said case and having the side edges thereof received beneath said ledges, and one end thereof received on said indented portions.

5. A key holder comprising a case having a bottom Wall, side walls and end walls, said side Walls having inwardly turned ledges at the upper ends thereof, one of said end walls having inwardly indented portions, and a cover plate slidably mounted on said case and having the side edges thereof received beneath said ledges, and one end thereof received on said indented portions, said cover plate having an indented portion at the opposite end thereof adapted to engage the opposite end wall of said case.

6. A key holder comprising a case having a bottom wall formed with an elongated longitudinal slot, side walls and end walls, said side Walls having inwardly turned ledges at the upper ends thereof, one of said end walls having inwardly indented portions, and a cover plate slidably mounted on said case and having the side edges thereof received beneath said ledges, and one end thereof received on said indented portions, and said cover plate having an indented portion at the opposite end thereof adapted to engage the opposite end wall of said case, and slidable means within said case for supporting a key received within the case, and having a portion extending through said slot.

7. In combination, a key case having a slot in the bottom wall thereof, a member projecting through said slot and having a pin portion projecting into the casing, a plate slidably mounted on the bottom wall of said case and having an elongated, longitudinal slot receiving said pin portion therethrough, said plate havinga pair of upstanding fingers at the forward edge thereof, and a coil tension spring having the ends thereof attached to the side edges of said slot.

8. In combination, a key case having a slot in the bottom wall thereof, a member projecting through said slot and having a pin portion projecting into the casing, a plate slidably mounted on the bottom 'wall of said case and having an elongated, longitudinal slot receiving said pin portion therethrough, said plate having a pair of upstanding fingers at the forward edge thereof, and a coil tension spring having the ends thereof attached to the side edges of said slotysaid spring being of substantially square cr0sssection.

9. A key holder comprising a plate, a plurality of parallel members mounted thereon for sliding movement in opposite directions, said members having at the remote ends thereof inwardly offset ears, each provided with a post, said postsbeing located in a plane'parallel to and betweenv said parallel members and adapted to be, received in the openings of keys mounted thereon. I

10. In combination, a key case, a plate ,within said case, a screw threaded member extendingupwardly. from said plate, afsecond plate lying on said first plate and having "a slot receiving said screw threaded member, and being provided-with means for engaging the edge of the bow portion of a key, and a member screwed tosaid screw threaded member adapted to clamp said plates to-' gether, said last-mentioned membenbeing adapted to be received within the opening of the bow portion of said key.

11. In combination, a key case having a slot in the bottom thereof, a plate within said case lying against the bottom thereof, means associated with said plate extending through said slot and through an opening in the bow portionof the key, and means adjustable on said plate for engaging the edge portion of the bow of a key.

HYMAN R. SEGAL. 

